At The Honorable John J. Binienda Center for Civic Engagement at Worcester State University, you will connect with volunteer and other experiential learning opportunities offered by an assortment of community partners. These are win-win-win programs—providing valuable services to recipients, expanding the capabilities of the University’s partners, and helping you to build a strong foundation in civic participation while honing your skills.
Facilitating joined efforts and activities among faculty, local organizations, and businesses to develop student projects and internships.
Placing students from a variety of majors and minors in volunteer and paid positions that fulfill degree requirements, test career interests, and develop leadership and teamwork skills.
Preparing students for effective democratic and economic participation that promotes healthy communities, global economic vitality, and social and political well-being.
Working with other departments on campus-based initiatives like the Community and Leadership Experience at Worcester State (CLEWS) living-learning community for eligible first-year students.
Through these activities, The Honorable John J. Binienda Center for Civic Engagement helps Worcester State meet the challenge established by the Massachusetts Board of Higher Education to provide meaningful civic education and engagement to students. Their commitment enabled Worcester State to earn the Community Engagement Classification by the Carnegie Foundation for Advancement of Teaching in 2015 and be named a member of NASPA’s Lead Initiative on Civic Learning and Democratic Engagement.
NSLVE is a signature initiative of the Institute for Democracy and Higher Education (IDHE) at Tufts University’s Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life. IDHE is an applied research center focused on college and university student political learning and participation in democracy.
IDHE researchers study:
Since NSLVE’s launch in 2013, more than 1,000 colleges and universities have signed up to receive their voting rates for the 2012, 2014, 2016 and 2018 federal elections.
Worcester State’s 2014 & 2018 Voting Rates Report
For Interim Director Frederick Jenoure, the heart of the Binienda Center’s mission is helping students connect learning to leadership. Since joining Worcester State University three years ago, Frederick has focused on making the Binienda Center more “student-facing” by visiting club meetings, expanding campus visibility, and organizing monthly speaker series that bring students together with alumni and community leaders. He also made the Center more welcoming by having students work at the front desk, creating a more inclusive and approachable environment for visitors. With nearly two decades of experience at the University of Hartford supporting organizations like the Black Student Union (BSU) and the Caribbean American Student Association (CASA), he brings a deep understanding of how student groups can drive change. A recent success Frederick had within civic engagement at Worcester State was helping BSU organize a fashion show modeled after a similar event held at the University of Hartford, which became a celebrated symbol of student leadership and creativity for both communities. Additionally, he is planning a student leadership trip to Washington, D.C. in March of 2026, and coordinating the upcoming “Day of Care” event, which will unite students, nonprofits, and civic leaders including Representative Jim O’Day, who has championed state funding to support the Center’s mission, all efforts to improve student engagement and participation inside and outside of their community.
A key discovery made by Frederick through his experience working within universities was that civic engagement is essential to student growth, whether through volunteering, nonprofit work, or collaborating across campus. One of his main priorities is helping students get involved with nonprofit boards by teaching leadership and governance skills. To support this goal, he partners with Tango, a local organization that provides resources and training to nonprofits, to place students in opportunities aligned with their majors for hands-on learning. Through these initiatives, he promotes civic engagement that is meaningful and impactful, without being confrontational. Beyond Worcester State, he’s active in Worcester’s nonprofit and civic sectors, from Women Take the Lead to Ascentria Care Alliance and Worcester Together. Reflecting on his connection with past students, Frederick shared that many still reach out years later for advice, affectionately calling him “Uncle Fred.” This highlights again the importance of cultivating strong relationships with students because they can spark powerful initiatives and encourage meaningful civic engagement even years later. His message to students is simple but powerful: civic engagement isn’t just activism. Civic engagement is leadership, community, and the path to meaningful change.
Sofia Silva-Rosa, a senior at Worcester State University and a fellow at the Binienda Center, is turning her passion for community into purpose. Sofia is a Liberal Studies major with minors in Communications and Sociology. She became involved with the Binienda Center for Civic Engagement through mentor Kathleen Orengo, the Director of K–12 Programs at the Latino Education Institute (LEI). During her 2024 Binienda Center Fellowship, Sofia helped revamp the LASOS (Latina Achievers In Search of Success) afterschool program for Worcester Public School girls; restructuring sessions, adding reflection activities, and shaping lessons around student feedback. The project opened her eyes to the power of empathy, mentorship, and creating safe spaces for youth. She described the program as mutually educational, learning from the girls as much as they learned from her. A particularly memorable moment for Sofia came when a student opened up to her about personal struggles, reaffirming the importance of empathy, mentorship, and creating inclusive spaces for youth. Guided by Orengo’s 25 years of leadership at the LEI, Sofia found inspiration to pursue a future in higher education and community engagement. Sofia says the fellowship gave her a stronger sense of purpose, a broader network, and a deeper commitment to inclusion and collaboration. Sofia advises students to apply to this fellowship because you will grow as a leader, connect with your community, and make an impact that lasts.
Estefania Alicea, a graduate student in Worcester State University’s School Psychology program and graduate assistant at the Binienda Center for Civic Engagement, has built their academic and professional journey around community connection and student empowerment. A Springfield native and Clark University alum, Nia first became involved in civic work through the Worcester Education Collaborative. Their passion for understanding people and systems, sparked by their undergraduate studies in cultural psychology, has continued to shape their approach to both school psychology and civic engagement. At Worcester State, they support students preparing for the Community Fellows program, develop trainings rooted in psychological and developmental theory, and help foster meaningful partnerships between students and local organizations. Through their work at the Binienda Center, Nia has helped lead voter registration efforts on campus, guided reflection sessions for student fellows, and strengthened Worcester State’s community ties. They emphasize that civic engagement is not only about political participation, but also about staying informed, building relationships, and creating space for reflection and learning. Their ongoing research on discrimination and university inclusivity highlights the importance of visibility and awareness of campus resources. For Nia, their identity puts them in the position where they feel they have to be involved in civic engagement because the communities they are a part of are often the most underserved communities. Looking ahead, Nia hopes to continue serving Worcester’s diverse communities as a licensed school psychologist, connecting families to the same community organizations they’ve worked so closely with and encouraging students to begin their own journey into civic engagement.
